I LABOUR ON

Princeton University Library
Book of Urizen
Plate 4

At the request of his friend Osias Humphry, William Blake printed the images, without the text, from several of his books he had already printed. This group of images became known as the Small Book of Designs. The above picture was extracted from the Book of Urizen and printed with the group. 

The above image is a digital reproduction of the original in the Princeton University Library. Another reproduction of the same picture from the same source is seen below. 

The handwritten legend below the picture states "Eternally I labour on." I find this an appropriate statement for the long string of attempts that have been made to make Blake's poetry and images accessible to the public. As technologies come and go Blake enthusiasts apply the new tools as they seek to reveal what is hidden in words and pictures.

The posts on this blog which show the series of images in the Small Book of Designs can be viewed by clicking on the Label - Small Book of Designs - in the panel on the right.

Letters, (E 771)

"To Dawson Turner Esqre, Yarmouth, Norfolk
9 June 1818 

...Those I Printed for Mr Humphry are a selection from the
different Books of such as could be Printed without the Writing
tho to the Loss of some of the best things  For they when Printed
perfect accompany Poetical Personifications & Acts without which
Poems they never could have been Executed"

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